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ACX vs Voices by INaudio

The two Publishing Database records, field by field. Every value is read from the record itself, so it carries that record’s sources and the date it was last checked. No scores and no winner: which fits depends on the book.

Weighing the choice rather than the terms? Should My Audiobook Be Exclusive to ACX?

ACX vs Voices by INaudio: terms compared
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange)Verified 26 October 2026Voices by INaudioVerified 26 October 2026
What it is
Type
Audiobook Platform · Distributor / AggregatorAudiobook Platform · Distributor / Aggregator
Formats
Audiobook (audio download)Audiobook (download and streaming)
Distribution
Audible, Amazon, Apple BooksAudible, Apple Books, Google Play, Spotify, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Libraries (OverDrive, Hoopla, BorrowBox), Other retail and library partners
Territories
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Spain, BrazilWorldwide, via retail and library partners
Terms
Exclusivity
Not requiredDistribution is a per-title choice. Exclusive distribution limits audio sales to Audible, Amazon and Apple Books and pays the higher rate; non-exclusive pays less but leaves you free to sell elsewhere. Either way Audible's distribution right runs for an initial seven years and renews automatically in one-year terms unless either side gives sixty days' notice. You can switch exclusive to non-exclusive, or request to end distribution, ninety days after the title's first sale.Not requiredNon-exclusive throughout. The author grants only a non-exclusive licence, can opt out of individual distribution partners, and can discontinue distribution or close the account at any time — the same audiobook can run on ACX non-exclusive, other aggregators or direct sales at the same time.
ISBN
Free ISBN: NoYour own ISBN: Not documentedACX does not use or require an ISBN. A title is claimed with the ASIN Amazon assigned to its ebook, and the finished audiobook is cataloged under an Audible-assigned ASIN.Free ISBN: YesYour own ISBN: YesLeave the retail and library ISBN fields blank and Voices by INaudio supplies a complimentary ISBN after publication. It cannot be used outside the platform, so it will not carry over if you later publish the audiobook direct elsewhere. Digital Voice Narration titles are assigned an ISBN automatically. An ebook or print ISBN cannot be reused: each format needs its own.
Royalties
  • 50%Exclusive distributionExclusive distribution, where the audio is sold only through Audible, Amazon and Apple Books. Under Audible's new royalty model, effective 26 May 2026. On an a la carte sale the rate applies to the price Audible sells at; on an Audible membership listen it applies to "Member Value" — the member's monthly fee, less discounts, taxes and fees, divided across the titles that member engaged with in proportion to their a la carte prices.
  • 30%Non-exclusive distributionNon-exclusive distribution — the same Audible, Amazon and Apple Books channels, but you stay free to sell the audiobook elsewhere and in any format. Same a la carte and membership "Member Value" basis as the exclusive rate.
  • 80% of net receiptsAuthor shareVoices by INaudio passes 80% of every royalty it collects from a retailer or library through to the author and keeps 20%. The author sets the list price. What each partner pays INaudio varies by channel — roughly 40–50% of list price on a la carte sales, 30–40% of list on subscription, and 25–45% of receipts on revenue-share deals — so the author's take is 80% of that.
Fees
  • Platform / setup fee — not charged
  • Setup / distribution fee — not charged
Payment schedule
Monthly, direct from Audible by electronic payment to a bank account in the rights holder's region, in local currency (USD, GBP, EUR or CAD). Royalties totalling less than $50 in an accounting period are held and carried forward to the next period.Monthly: INaudio pays royalties it has collected within 30 days of receiving them from a seller. Most sellers report monthly, some quarterly, so payouts lag the sale. Minimum payout thresholds depend on the payment method set in the author's Payment Profile.
Returns
Royalties are calculated after returns: Exhibit A of the Audiobook License and Distribution Agreement deducts returns from à la carte net sales receipts and from the membership allocation, under both exclusive and non-exclusive terms. The agreement does not state Audible’s customer return window.The terms let INaudio withhold, delay or offset royalties because of chargebacks, refunds and retailer claims. Where it suspends an account for suspected fraud or breach and refunds a distribution partner for royalties on your title, you must reimburse it, or the amount is offset against later payments. The terms do not describe how ordinary customer returns are reported.
Rights & privacy
Overall posture
MixedGenerally protective
AI training on your work
Terms are silent or ambiguousOnly with opt-in
Content licence
Sublicensable to third partiesNarrow — scoped to running the service
Deletion
AvailableAvailable
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The full records, with sources, facts and change history: ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) and Voices by INaudio.